Amusement apparatus



AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Fned May 17, 1945 z Sheets-Sheet I Z J 4 (fro/75;

March 19, 1946. w.,A, TRATSCH AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed May 17, 1945 3Sheets-Sheet 2 March 19, 194-6. A TRATSCH 2,396,762-

AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed May 17, 1945 3 Sheets-Sh e 5 INVENTOR. BY li/fer f7. Wa/sc 1 fi r's 6990/7 Patented Mar. 19, 1946 AMUSEMENTAPPARATUS WaltenA. Tratsch, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Clarence Threedy,Chicago, 111., as trustee .Appli'cation May 17, 1945,:Serial No. 594,298

.5 Claims. --(Cl. 46-122) This invention relates to amusementapparatuses. More specifically the invention relates -'to a mechanism"for providing a, staggered'and intermittent movement of a plurality ofobjects each: simulating a race horse or-a greyhound it or other animalor character, over an unobstructed track, and to this end itis sought bythis invention to accomplishthe' foregoing by a structure which issimple and-economical in menu- I facture, requiring the minimum numberof parts for eifective operation.

Other objects will appear hereinafter. The invention consists in thenovel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter describedand claimed.

"The invention will be best understood by reference to theaccompanyingdrawings showing the preferred form of construction and in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view ofthe amusement apparatus' embodying the inventionFig. 2 is a longitudinalverticalsectionaldetail view taken substantiallyon-line 2 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectionaldetail view takensubstantially on line 3--3-of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is-a sectional detail view of'thesame taken substantially onlined-40f Fig." 3;

Fig. 5--is' a sectional detail view of the same takensubstantially online 5'-5 ofFig'Z;

Fig; 6 is a'diagrammatical plan'vie'w of a suggested circuit arrangementembodied in the in -vention.

The drawings illustrate the preferred form longitudinal slot i8 formedin the shaft l3 wheredriving discs 2|. Each'disc 2! supports a pulley22. Each disc 2i:providesa-central'hub '23 projected through an-opening24 formed in the pulley22 supported by the disc; Each hub 23 extendsslightly above the top surface 25 'Qfthe adjacent pulley 22 so thatthe'hubs are in effect resting one upon. the otherand support the discs2| in spaced relation from the :pulleys 22, as

est shown iniFig. 3. Each hub 23 is provided With-a transverse web 26which fits into the by to provide driving connection between the discs2| and the shaft I3. Eachpulley comof construction by which theseveralobjects of this invention are accomplished. In this'connection asuitable mounting plate is indicated at It. Positioned at one endof'thismounting plate is a U-shaped bracket ll, the-endportions "lz-ofwhich are arranged in arallel relation with respect to each other toproviderspaced "bearings for a driven shaft l3 extending through themounting-plate l0 and extending vertically thereabove. "The lower endportion of this shaft i3-is slotted as at [5 for the reception of a keyl6 carried by the driving shaft I '|,-whichdriving shaft ll is rotatedby a suitable driving power,

such forexample,-an electric or spring motor (not shown). The-majorlength of" this shaft 13' is provided with a longitudinal slot 'lfl'forreasons hereinafter set forth. "Positioned upon the shaft l3 and fixedthereto bymeans of a suitable "set screw l9- and located adjacentthelower end portions I? of the bracket H is a collar 2U.

"Upon this shaft 13 in spaced-relationwith between the end portions 3 lthere isarranged a plurality of pulleys34 spaced prises a groove 2'! anda ratchet gear 28. In the grooves 21 of the pulleyswork continuousribbon-likev belts 29.

At theopp'osite end of the mounting plate l0 there issecured-asubstantially U-shaped bracket 30, the endaportions 3| of whichprovide suitable bearings for the ends 32 of a shaft 33 disposed On"this shaft 33 from each otheroby.suitablecollars35 disposed :between thepulleys as shown. The top and bottom pulley of the pulleys 34 are spacedfrom the end. portions 31 of a the bracket by suit- .able bushings-36.These pulleys34 each comprise groovestlin which work the continuousribbon-like belts 29.

The lowermost of thediscs 2| (as shown in Fig 3) rests upon the collar20 fixed to the shaft l3 by the set screw [9.

The arrangementis such that when the shaft l3lis rotated bythe shaft H,the pulleys 22, restingupon 'thedrivingdiscs 2], will rotate with thei.discs"2l except when prevented from doing so in a manner now to bedescribed.

Fixed to the mounting plate In is a supporting bracket 38. Carried bythis bracket 38 are a plurality of independently operated solenoidsv 39each" comprising a solenoid. shaftAD adapted to successively engage the.ratchet gears 28 of the pulleys 22 to momentarily hold one of thepulleys respect to each other are arranged a plurality of againstrotation with its respective driving or supporting disc 21'.

This successive engagement between the solenoid shafts 40 and'theratchet gears 29 may be accomplished in any suitable manner, but'for thepurpose of illustration I have shown in Fig. 6 a circuitdiagram capableof this accomplishment. In this connection, 4|- indicates a motor-drivenswitch arm, the motor being indicated at 42 and arranged in an'electriccircuti 43; in which circuitthere isa' master-switch 44 to controloperation' of themctor' 42. This switch arm 4| is adapted, in thepresent instance, to engage contact buttons 45 having connection withthe solenoids. The opposite, side of these solenoids is connected by thecircuit conductors 41 to the source of electric energy 48.

The arrangement is such that upon engagement between the switch arm 4!and one of the contact buttons 45, the solenoid coil connected to suchbutton will be energized and the solenoid shaft 40 projected intoengagement with the gear 28 to momentarily hold the pulley with whichthat gear is associated, against rotation with its driving or supportingdisc. This will permit the remaining belts 29 to rotate while the beltof the pulley thus restrained from rotation will momentarily remainstationary. While I have illustrated in Fig. 6 that the buttons 45 aresuccessively engaged, it is obvious that an arrangement may be adoptedfor alternately engaging.

such buttons.

Secured to each of the belts 29 is a spring-like supporting wire 49which supports a suitable object 5|, which object may simulate a racehorse,

greyhound or other racing animal. This racing object may be supportedfrom its respective wire support 49 in a manner substantially similar tothat disclosed in application, Serial No. 574,486, filed January 25,1945.

To complete the invention, a suitable structure is provided to simulatea race track R. In this connection it is one of the objects of thisinvention to support this race track in a manner such as would notinterfere with the movement of the wires 49 by the belts 29. Toaccomplish this object, there is provided a plurality of rod-likeelements 52 equally spaced from each other as best shown in Figs. 1, 2and 5, to provide guideways 52, which in the present instance aresubstantially oval-shaped in plan view and between which the wires 49project and move.

These rod-like members 52 are arranged concentrically with respect toeach other to simulate a race track. These rod like members 52 aresupported by bars 53 arranged in spaced parallel relation with respectto each other and bent to provide vertical end portions 54 secured tothe rod-like members 52 are connected by soldering or the like. Thesebars 53 are further bent to provide horizontal end portions 55 securedto plates 55 carried by the brackets H. As the bars 53 are concentricwith respect to each other and support the track rods 52 in concentricrelation with respect to each other, it ismanifest that the guideways52' between each of the track rods 52 the wires 49 to move through thepassages 51 free from any interference.

The operation of the amusement apparatus is as follows:

. Upon rotation of the shaft 13 the pulleys 22,

- conductor buttons 45 and successively eifect en-.

ergization of the solenoid coils 46, thus successively projecting thesolenoid shafts 40 into engagement with the ratchet gears 28,momentarily restraining rotation of one of the pulleys 22.

. and bars 53 are unobstructed, thus permitting While restrained, thebelt of that pulley, 29, will momentarily stop traveling andconsequently the racing object carried thereby will likewise momentarilystop moving, thus permitting the other racing objects to advance forwardof the racing object momentarily stopped. By this arrangement, theracing objects may advance ahead of one another, thus simulating afastmoving object and one which has been slowed up or momentarilystopped. [As before stated,

while I have not indicated the mechanism for alternately engaging theconductor buttons 45, such mechanism may be provided without departingfrom the spirit of this invention.

From the-foregoing description, it is apparent that there is provided anamusement apparatus in which the racing objects may gain or loseaccording to the degree of rotation of the pulleys 22 controlling theirmovement over a track simulated by the track rods 52.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carrying my invention into efiect, this is capable ofvariation and modification without departing from the spirit of theinvention. 1, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precisedetails of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of suchvariations and modifications as come within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention,. what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

1. A structure simulating a race track comprising a plurality ofhorizontally. disposed members having portions arranged concentricallyand in spaced relation with respect to each other, a pair of supportingbrackets spaced from each other, and members extending from saidbrackets in spaced parallel relation with respect to. each other andhaving end portions connected to such first named members and providingtherebetween unobstructed passages.

2. A structure simulating a race track comprising a mounting plate,spaced bracket members at opposite end portions of the mounting plate,

to each other, a pair of spaced bracket members located centrally withrespect to said rod members, spaced rod members extending from saidbrackets in concentric spaced relation with respect to each other andhaving end portions secured to said first-named rod members forsupporting said first-named rod members with respect to each other tosimulate a race track.

4. A structure simulating a race track comprising a mounting placebracket element on said plate, supporting means carried by and extendinglaterally and upwardly from opposite sidesof said bracket element andhaving spaced concentrically arranged passageaand a track structurecarried by said supporting means and having a plurality of horizontallyarranged guideways communieating with the passages, in combination witha plurality of traveling belts arranged beneath said track structure andhaving object-supporting means extending laterally therefrom anddisposed in said guideways, for movement therealong and adapted to passthrough said passages.

5. A structure simulating a race track comprising a mounting plate,bracket elements at opposite ends of said mounting plate and located ona centrally located longitudinal line of said mounting plate, supportingmeans carried by each of said brackets and extending laterally andupwardly from opposite vertical edges thereof 10 pass through saidpassages.

WALTER A. TRATSCH.

